My new baby beardie will NOT eat!?

[Shelbsalexis]

So my beardie of 10+ years recently passed away. A family member bought me a new baby. I’ve had him for about 11 days now. The first 2 days I had him he ate a decent amount of crickets & Dubias. No greens/vegs. By day 3ish-4 of having him he will NOT eat anything at all! Nothing. I’ve offered so many bugs several attempts through out each day. And he always has a fresh salad each day that he has NEVER touched. Honestly all he really does is bask all day long. Doesn’t leave his rock. I’m not sure what to do or if this is normal!?!? (His basking temps are a perfect 105’f. His cool side is about 79’f. Currently I have a coil UVB 10.0 bulb. But I have a reprising T5 10.0 coming in the mail tomorrow. Rango does poop every single morning. Does that mean he is eating without me seeing? Any advice would be great!

 

[KarrieRee]

So my beardie of 10+ years recently passed away. A family member bought me a new baby. I’ve had him for about 11 days now. The first 2 days I had him he ate a decent amount of crickets & Dubias. No greens/vegs. By day 3ish-4 of having him he will NOT eat anything at all! Nothing. I’ve offered so many bugs several attempts through out each day. And he always has a fresh salad each day that he has NEVER touched. Honestly all he really does is bask all day long. Doesn’t leave his rock. I’m not sure what to do or if this is normal!?!? (His basking temps are a perfect 105’f. His cool side is about 79’f. Currently I have a coil UVB 10.0 bulb. But I have a reprising T5 10.0 coming in the mail tomorrow. Rango does poop every single morning. Does that mean he is eating without me seeing? Any advice would be great!

Ok I would say the coil UVB is the issue here - they will not eat w/ out correct UVB so its good you have the T 5 coming tomorrow - please tell me if your screen on the tank is a wide hole type or a fine mesh like a screen door - this will determine where the UVB needs to be placed and distanced --- keep offering the food - how much poop is he pooping out -- are you taking your surface basking temps w/ a digital probe thermometer?

 

[Shelbsalexis]

Ok I would say the coil UVB is the issue here - they will not eat w/ out correct UVB so its good you have the T 5 coming tomorrow - please tell me if your screen on the tank is a wide hole type or a fine mesh like a screen door - this will determine where the UVB needs to be placed and distanced --- keep offering the food - how much poop is he pooping out -- are you taking your surface basking temps w/ a digital probe thermometer?

So I believe my top screen is a wide holed screen. That’s another thing I’ve been trying to figure out.. whether to mount the UVB inside the terrarium or whether to just place it on top of the screen. I’m thinking that I should put it on TOP of the screen because there isn’t a huge distance between his basking spot and the top of the screen I will post a pic if I can figure out how.
As for his poops, they have been completely normal. Every morning after he wakes up he goes. Although the past 2 days it has been a lot smaller. For the basking temps, I have been reading temps daily with a thermometer gun. He is getting a perfect temp of between 100’f-110’f

 

[KarrieRee]

So I believe my top screen is a wide holed screen. That’s another thing I’ve been trying to figure out.. whether to mount the UVB inside the terrarium or whether to just place it on top of the screen. I’m thinking that I should put it on TOP of the screen because there isn’t a huge distance between his basking spot and the top of the screen I will post a pic if I can figure out how.
As for his poops, they have been completely normal. Every morning after he wakes up he goes. Although the past 2 days it has been a lot smaller. For the basking temps, I have been reading temps daily with a thermometer gun. He is getting a perfect temp of between 100’f-110’f

Post a pic from the top of the screen please

 

[Shelbsalexis]

Post a pic from the top of the screen please

Here is the top of the screen along with the new baby. This is how he spends about all day. Laying on his backing spot with his eyes closed. He just seems defeated even though I am offering so many bug choices & salads. At night he goes inside his hide on the cool side to go to sleep. I am hoping the new light tomorrow helps!

 

[KarrieRee]

Here is the top of the screen along with the new baby. This is how he spends about all day. Laying on his backing spot with his eyes closed. He just seems defeated even though I am offering so many bug choices & salads. At night he goes inside his hide on the cool side to go to sleep. I am hoping the new light tomorrow helps!

That's a wide hole type place directly above the basking decor 8-10 inches- make sure he's hydrated - offer water on his nose dripping on him see if he will lick - do this a couple times a week- the uvb should help tremendously - keep us posted

 

[Shelbsalexis]

That's a wide hole type place directly above the basking decor 8-10 inches- make sure he's hydrated - offer water on his nose dripping on him see if he will lick - do this a couple times a week- the uvb should help tremendously - keep us posted

Yes that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for water since I have yet to see him go to his water dish. I wanted to be sure he is staying hydrated. I feel so bad but I’m not going to give up trying everything. Thank you so much for the help & I will keep this threat updated in the next few days!

 

[KarrieRee]

Yes that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for water since I have yet to see him go to his water dish. I wanted to be sure he is staying hydrated. I feel so bad but I’m not going to give up trying everything. Thank you so much for the help & I will keep this threat updated in the next few days!

I also recommend getting two digital probe thermometers- they are the most accurate - IR guns are good but cannot read off of certain materials-

 

[xp29]

That baby is extremely malnourished. Have you tried offering a slurry by syringe? You can make your own from insects, and salad. Or you can get Oxbow critical care on Amazon. I recommend the carnivore variety for a baby. Make sure he stays hydrated also, if they get really dehydrated giving them food can harm them. If he won't drink add some none citrus fruit juice or punch to the water to give it flavor. Use an eyedropper to administrator it, a syringe is to big and you could accidentally aspirate him. Go slow at his pace, don't force it (again it could aspirate him). When your done if you added the juice or punch use a wet cloth to wipe away any that ran down his chin or dripped on him. The juice could possibly cause bacteria or fungus to start beings it has sugars and such in it.

 

[xp29]

Something else you can do till you get your uvb corrected if it's warm enough where you are, you can take him out in the sun to get natural uvb.

 

[Axil]

I know you said you've tried a lot different insects, but does that include BSFL? The advantage being they wiggle slowly so unlike a roach or cricket you can sit it an inch in front of his nose and back off without it taking off across the enclosure.

Just a thought, wishing you the best.

 

[AHBD]

Hi Shel, you haven't done anything wrong because some babies from stores can seem healthy at first and go downhill quickly, sometimes from parasites or even atadenovirus. I agree with syringe feeding him/her a bit to get some nutrition/hydration in him. The new uvb should help but be sure to offer the syringe feedings. You can get Repashy grub pie at most pet stores, that's a good option as well. Best wishes to your little one !

 

[Shelbsalexis]

I know you said you've tried a lot different insects, but does that include BSFL? The advantage being they wiggle slowly so unlike a roach or cricket you can sit it an inch in front of his nose and back off without it taking off across the enclosure.

Just a thought, wishing you the best.

I actually ordered some the other day. It should be here by Friday! I’m hoping that may be more intriguing to him. But even putting the Dubias upside down he will just let it sit there without seeming interested at all

 

[Shelbsalexis]

Hi Shel, you haven't done anything wrong because some babies from stores can seem healthy at first and go downhill quickly, sometimes from parasites or even atadenovirus. I agree with syringe feeding him/her a bit to get some nutrition/hydration in him. The new uvb should help but be sure to offer the syringe feedings. You can get Repashy grub pie at most pet stores, that's a good option as well. Best wishes to your little one !

I think I may have to… it’s now day 11 since I’ve had him. And he only ate the first 2 days (maybe 3-4 roaches day 1 &2) and then absolutely nothing since then. I’ve tried bugs that he can “hunt” for. As well as roaches in an escape proof bowl so he can eat without anybody watching but with absolutely no luck at all. I’ve tried even putting him a bin with a bunch of roaches, nothing. And trying with tongs.. to no avail. Ugh I feel so helpless. My local pet store is quite a far distance so I’m going to have to order the syringe substitute online which will take 2 days unfortunately. Any advice on the syringe feedings/how to do it/how much?

Unfortunately my family member got him for me and he knows nothing about beardies so I think he tried picking the “prettiest” rather than the healthiest looking one. And it was from a pet store that does NOT have good feedback with their animals at all.
I just hate having to watch him slowly deteriorate. But I’m truly trying everything at this point.

 

[Shelbsalexis]

Hi Shel, you haven't done anything wrong because some babies from stores can seem healthy at first and go downhill quickly, sometimes from parasites or even atadenovirus. I agree with syringe feeding him/her a bit to get some nutrition/hydration in him. The new uvb should help but be sure to offer the syringe feedings. You can get Repashy grub pie at most pet stores, that's a good option as well. Best wishes to your little one !

So sorry 2nd reply: But do you think I could make the food supplement at home? I’m buying a syringe now. I have many different fruits, veggies, greens, and roaches. Do you think that would be okay? I’m going to try to do some research before attempting it. But I feel like he can’t wait for something to come in mail